Julie Nyanjom - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Julie Nyanjom

Higher education research & development/Higher education research and development, Mar 25, 2024

Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, Sep 22, 2021

Emotional labor and the hospitality and tourism curriculum: The development and integration of em... more Emotional labor and the hospitality and tourism curriculum: The development and integration of emotion skills.

Current Issues in Tourism, Aug 26, 2015

Building sustainable communities, as well as sustainable forms of livelihood, including tourism, ... more Building sustainable communities, as well as sustainable forms of livelihood, including tourism, has been a key objective among many government agencies and community stakeholders. Against this background, and through the lens of role theory, the present study investigates the potential for sustainable tourism to be developed in a rural community. Data were gathered among business owners and residents of Bridgetown, Western Australia. Four key groups of participants emerged, each emphasizing participants' role as community, and therefore, as tourism stakeholders. Alignment with various perspectives of role theory, including functional, “symbolic interactionist”, structural and cognitive was noticed; similarly, consensus, conformity and role taking were identified as key concepts. Whether currently involved in tourism or not, participants' pro-active role suggesting practical ways to enhance the sustainability of local tourism could be a powerful tool in this and other communities seeking to build their destination image.

A decade ago, McKercher (2001) observed that the hospitality and tourism programmes of the future... more A decade ago, McKercher (2001) observed that the hospitality and tourism programmes of the future would likely have to reinvent themselves to survive. Today, the reinvention of these programmes and the courses that make them up appears inevitable. This is more clearly portrayed in the delivery of special interest tourism units. There are many who have researched and written on the area of the progress of hospitality and tourism education in Australia. However few have dwelt on the curriculum content of these programmes. Whilst curriculum setting for these two industries separately has presented challenges to educators and curriculum planners alike, planning a curriculum for a combined discipline presents even more of a challenge. Employing desk research, this working paper attempts to explore the progress of combined hospitality and tourism programmes, with the focus of evaluating the units that make up the programmes. An exploration is made of the type of units within the programmes, more specifically, the special interest tourism units and whether these units are also combined or only focus on either hospitality or tourism. Initial findings indicate that units that make up a combined hospitality and tourism programme usually lean towards one industry more than the other. Whatever the case may be, the amalgamation of hospitality and tourism disciplines and how this informs the content of our curriculum is a subject that is certainly of interest to hospitality and tourism educators, and thus one worth exploring

Higher education research and development, Sep 2, 2020

Higher education (HE) has seen a growing trend towards online study. However, teaching is deeply ... more Higher education (HE) has seen a growing trend towards online study. However, teaching is deeply connected to one's beliefs, values, commitments and to relationships with students. A change in the mode of instruction and pedagogy has the potential to disrupt these deep and personal connections giving rise to an emotional response. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the nature and significance of emotions in HE educators transitioning to online teaching. Findings indicate a dynamic relationship between the type of emotional responses and the amount of institutional support. Based on the type of emotional response and amount of support, four emergent orientations of educators are presented: Futuristic, Ambivalent, Disillusioned and Cautious. Implications for practice are also presented.

Routledge eBooks, Dec 17, 2020

This comprehensive volume seeks out ways in which those who are typically marginalized by, or exc... more This comprehensive volume seeks out ways in which those who are typically marginalized by, or excluded from, tourism can be brought into the industry in ways that directly benefit them. It addresses the central questions asked by an inclusive tourism approach: Who is included? On what terms? With what significance? Tourism is often understood and experienced as an exclusive activity, accessible only to the relatively wealthy. This volume seeks to counter that tendency by exploring how marginalized groups can gain more control over tourism. The book starts by defining the concept of inclusive tourism and discussing seven different elements which might indicate inclusivity in tourism. Research from a wide range of geographical contexts – from Cambodia to Australia, Sweden, Turkey and Spain – have been drawn upon to illustrate the need for more inclusive tourism. The examples encompass the actions of a multinational tour operator, hotel owners, and social enterprises, while also examining how to ensure tourism is accessible for those with disabilities. Inclusive tourism is offered here as both an analytical concept and an aspirational ideal. The authors hope that this book inspires a restless quest to find ways to include new actors and new places in tourism on terms that are equitable and sustainable. The chapters were originally published as a special issue of the journal Tourism Georgraphies

Springer eBooks, 2018

Academics in higher education are expected by their institutions to enhance their self-developmen... more Academics in higher education are expected by their institutions to enhance their self-development. Role modelling is a means by which academics may achieve pertinent self-development goals. The focus of this chapter is to explore how role modelling can be used in this regard. Through a comprehensive literature review, the dynamics of role modelling in the context of higher education is explored. The author discusses the intricate processes involved in how role modelling can positively influence the personal and professional development of academics. Theoretical perspectives of professional identity construction through role modelling are examined. The author presents the position that academics will utilise role models for personal and professional development throughout their careers. In this context, the processes of role model selection are examined, and the theoretical underpinnings guiding the achievement of self-developmental goals are discussed. The author concludes that role modelling can be applied as an avenue to personal and professional development for academics. The author also proposes practical recommendations to facilitate role modelling interventions within the context of higher education and suggests avenues for future research.

Educational Action Research, Dec 23, 2018

There is a common assumption that experienced educators will automatically be effective mentors. ... more There is a common assumption that experienced educators will automatically be effective mentors. My experience indicates that building competence in mentoring others requires conscious intent and effort. This article is a self-study action research account that explores mentoring practice from the mentor's perspective. The study sets to explore the relational dynamics within mentoring relationships, with the focus of obtaining a deeper understanding of the mentor's growth and the impact of this learning on mentor identity. Data collection was through personal reflective journals, mentoring conversations and focus group interviews. Findings indicate that critical reflective practice can lead to transformational learning that results in personal and professional growth and improved mentor competency. Transformative learning episodes highlight significant learning points that converge to enhance personal and professional learning and contribute to the formulation of mentor identity. A conclusion drawn is that applying a personal strategic intent towards mentor development can lead to improved mentoring culture and organisational learning and growth.

Tourism Analysis, Nov 18, 2016

The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the recor... more The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the record. Please see the repository URL above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.

Educational Research, Oct 24, 2020

Background: The recent growth in online teaching and learning has increased the prevalence of edu... more Background: The recent growth in online teaching and learning has increased the prevalence of educators using technology as the medium for teaching. Research on physical face-to-face teaching has demonstrated that educators engage in emotional labour as part of their job. However, there is limited understanding of how emotional labour presents when educators interact with students in online learning environments. Purpose: This study sought to explore how educators experience, manage and regulate their emotions when teaching online. Method: Semi-structured interviews with a sample of 20 educators from a higher education institution in Australia were held. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied to explore participants' experiences of emotional labour. Findings: The analysis indicated that educators performed emotional labour by creating socioemotional presence through professionalism-demonstrated through emotions such as empathy, concern and friendliness; suppressing their emotions during textbased interpersonal communication; and expressing their emotions through word tone and vocal cues. Findings also identified that challenges encountered by educators in efforts at managing and regulating emotions may create tensions that have negative impacts on educator wellbeing. Conclusions: This exploratory study extends understanding of how emotional labour is performed in an online learning environment. It highlights three important implications: first, emotional labour and its potential impacts should be considered within institutional structures and inform decisions about how to offer targeted support to online educators; second, staff development interventions should acknowledge that online learning environments involve emotional labour that may differ in nuanced ways from physical face-to-face teaching and ensure that appropriate coping strategies are discussed and shared; third, there is a need for emotional labour to be regarded as a purposeful strategy in online learning design.

Educational Action Research, Oct 9, 2017

Abstract The creation of action research cycles is a fundamental part of action research projects... more Abstract The creation of action research cycles is a fundamental part of action research projects. The aim of this article is to present the methodological challenge that is inherent in designing action research cycles. The article reports on my lived experience as I conceptualised and implemented a structured and systematic way of ordering and reporting the cycles within cycles in a mentoring self-study action research project. The paper discusses the journey that led to structure, and recognises the messiness that preluded this achievement within the action research process. I suggest that messiness is an inherent part of creating action research cycles. The path towards ordered structure is assisted through critical reflective practice and structured mentoring conversations. Of value to both emerging and more experienced action researchers, this article contributes to the practice of doing action research.

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Jan 8, 2018

The paper uses Levitas's (2013) Utopia as Method as a methodological tool to develop hypothetical... more The paper uses Levitas's (2013) Utopia as Method as a methodological tool to develop hypothetical future scenarios which are used to explore the place of disabled guests in peerto-peer holiday accommodation. Findings Analysis of hypothetical scenarios suggests that, without state intervention, the place of disabled guests in both traditional hotels and peer-to-peer holiday accommodation is far from secure. Research limitations/implications This is a new area and our discussion is therefore tentative in its intent. Practical implications Planners and policymakers should consult with, and take account of, the needs of disabled people and other socially excluded groups when regulating shared economy enterprises. It 2 may be helpful to put in place broader legislation for social inclusion rather than regulate peer-to-peer platforms. Any recourse to markets as a means of resolving access issues needs also to acknowledge the limited power of socially excluded groups within both traditional and sharing economy markets.

Tourism Geographies, Jun 19, 2018

Stakeholder collaboration is increasingly being lauded as important in the development of accessi... more Stakeholder collaboration is increasingly being lauded as important in the development of accessible tourism. The purpose of this study is to explore how stakeholders collaborate in the development of accessible tourism. Drawing on research conducted in Western Australia, the study utilises qualitative approaches in its exploration. The evidence from the study strongly indicates that there is minimal collaboration between stakeholders in the development of accessible tourism. The findings suggest that when there are multiple and diverse stakeholders at play, an organic, circulatory and developmental approach to stakeholder collaboration should be adopted to innovatively move towards inclusive tourisman ideal that aspires to equal access and inclusion for all. To this end, four emergent interrelated themes are considered: control and coordination, communication, clarity of roles and responsibilities and collaboration and integration. From these themes, a framework that can be applied to encourage collaboration is proposed.

Journal of vocational education & training, Nov 2, 2020

Internship as part of work-integrated learning (WIL) is a critical curriculum component in higher... more Internship as part of work-integrated learning (WIL) is a critical curriculum component in higher education to better prepare for the future workforce. To assess WIL, educators typically select authentic assessments such as reflective journals and managerial reports to solve existing workplace problems. Despite the academic discourse supporting the use of internships, a paucity of studies has investigated the role of formal assessments embedded into internship subjects. In this paper, we evaluate the perceptions of hospitality and tourism undergraduates towards the effectiveness of assessments as part of their WIL internship program. Focus group sessions were conducted with internship university students (n=29) in Australia over a crosssectional longitudinal period of three years. Our thematic analysis revealed three key themes: authenticity of assessment design, challenges with work-study-life balance, and the level of industry involvement in assessment. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in relation to how compulsory assessment tasks can be effectively integrated into WIL internships to positively influence the experiential learning outcomes of students.

Palgrave Explorations in Workplace Stigma, 2019

Older Australians and other older workers around the western world are being encouraged to re-ent... more Older Australians and other older workers around the western world are being encouraged to re-enter the workforce and work later into their lives. As the workforce ages, organisations will need to develop strategies to encourage commitment and engagement of their older workers. Mentoring is a proven learning and development intervention that can be utilised to achieve this strategic objective. Mentoring is an interpersonal relationship between a more experienced individual (the mentor) and a less experienced one (the mentee). Older workers may need mentoring to enhance their learning and development. Mentoring practice, however, is synonymous with older workers mentoring younger ones. Thus, older workers as mentees may be viewed as a dysfunctional relationship. In addition, age discrimination pervasive in today’s contemporary organisations presents hidden inequalities that face older workers requiring mentoring. Focusing on Australia but with a wider international application, this chapter explores obstacles to older workers participating in mentoring relationships. Challenges presented by age discrimination which results in negative stereotypes, including societal norms, implications of matching mentoring pairs and generational differences are explored. The chapter concludes with theoretical and practical implications and recommendations. As the workforce continues to age, mentoring the older worker is a timely issue that needs urgent attention and intervention.

Journal of hospitality & tourism education, Oct 1, 2016

It has been established that emotional labor competencies are an asset to competitiveness in the ... more It has been established that emotional labor competencies are an asset to competitiveness in the hospitality industry. Although graduates of hospitality training enter the industry with well-developed hard technical skills, their soft skills are often underdeveloped. Soft skills make up a significant portion of emotional labor competencies, a concept inherent in service industries. Consequently, it is beneficial for graduates of food and beverage practical service to possess emotional labor competencies. This study explored how the emotional labor concept presents within a training restaurant environment. A qualitative approach using observation and in-depth semistructured interviews was used. The findings provide interesting insights into how students experience emotional labor while in practical training. It is significant that these findings indicate that the students begin to develop emotional labor competencies in the training restaurant. The study offers practical and relevant implications useful to both training providers and industry professionals. Avenues for future research are also presented.

Educational Action Research